Trailer hitch with load adjustment

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for towing a trailer, and more particularly to a weight distribution trailer hitch system.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When a trailer is hitched to a tow vehicle, the tongue weight typically causes the rear of the tow vehicle to lower, and the front to raise as shown in the prior art FIG. <b>1</b>. The purposes of a weight distributing hitch is to remove excessive weight from the tow vehicle's rear axle and to distribute it to the front wheels of the tow vehicle and to the trailer wheels. Weight distributing hitch systems of this type are generally known in the art. Despite the generally known technology of weight distributing hitch systems, it is still desirable in the art to provide a weight distribution hitch system which is easier to assemble and properly adjust and which is capable of being utilized with alternative accessories.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a weight distributing hitch system for a trailer including a shank portion and a head which is angularly adjustably mounted to the shank. The head includes a plurality of adjustment teeth disposed on a body of the head. The head includes a hitch ball which is adapted to be connected to a trailer coupler. A toothed caster is adjustably engageable with the plurality of adjustment teeth disposed on the body of the head. The toothed caster includes a plurality of caster teeth which engage with the plurality of adjustment teeth disposed on the body of the head. The adjustment teeth and caster teeth are spaced at a predetermined distance so as to require proper seating of the caster teeth within the adjustment teeth for the head to be appropriately mounted to the shank portion. A mounting hole is provided in the toothed caster that is offset from the center so as to allow the toothed caster to be rotated 180 degrees to provide a second series of adjustment options.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the head includes an upper flange and a lower flange with the upper flange including a pair of upper flange holes that generally align with a pair of lower flange holes in the lower flange. The upper flange also includes a pair of receptor grooves on a lower surface thereof adjacent to the pair of upper flange holes. The upper and lower flange holes are provided for receipt of a pair of round spring bars while the receptor grooves on the lower surface of the upper flange are provided for receipt of the trunnion receptor of a trunnion-type spring bar. Accordingly, the head of the present invention can be utilized with either round or trunnion-type spring bars.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a problem with the prior art trailer hitch system weighing down a rear end of a towing vehicle;

FIG. 2 illustrates a well balanced weight distribution system utilized for towing a trailer behind a towing vehicle according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a weight distributing hitch assembly according to the principles of the present invention for use with trunnion-type square spring bars;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a weight distributing hitch system according to the principles of the present invention utilizing alternative round spring bars;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the head of the weight distributing hitch assembly according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the head looking upwards at the top flange;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the toothed caster according to the principles of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the toothed caster shown in FIG. <b>7</b>.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

With reference to FIG. 1, the prior art trailer hitch assembly will now be described. As is very well known in the art, a towing vehicle <b>10</b> is provided with a hitch system <b>12</b> which is connected to a tongue <b>14</b> of a trailer <b>16</b>. As illustrated in FIG. 1, when the trailer <b>16</b> is hitched to a towing vehicle <b>10</b>, the tongue weight typically causes the rear of the tow vehicle <b>10</b> to lower and the front to raise.

With reference to FIG. 2, a weight distributing hitch system, according to the principles of the present invention, will now be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a towing vehicle <b>10</b> is provided for towing a trailer <b>16</b> which is provided with a tongue <b>14</b>. The tongue <b>14</b> of the trailer <b>16</b> is attached to the hitch system <b>20</b> of the present invention in order to distribute some of the weight of the trailer to the front axle of the towing vehicle <b>10</b> and to the axles of the trailer <b>16</b>.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the hitch system <b>20</b> of the present invention includes a shank <b>22</b> which is adapted to be connected to a hitch receptacle <b>24</b> mounted to the rear portion of the vehicle <b>10</b> as best shown in FIG. 2. A head <b>26</b> is adjustably mounted to the shank <b>22</b>. A hitch ball <b>28</b> is mounted to a ball mounting hole <b>29</b> of the head <b>26</b>. A pair of spring arms <b>30</b> are removably attached at a first end to the head <b>26</b>. A chain <b>32</b> is attached to a second end of each of the spring bars <b>30</b> and extends vertically upward for engagement with a respective snap-up bracket <b>34</b> which is disposed on each of the arms of the “A” frame portion of the tongue <b>14</b> of the trailer <b>16</b> (only one of the snap-up brackets <b>34</b> being shown).

The shank <b>22</b> is generally L-shaped and includes a generally square or rectangular horizontal portion <b>36</b> designed to be received in a hitch receptacle <b>24</b> provided on the vehicle. A hole <b>38</b> is provided through the horizontal portion for receiving a locking pin <b>40</b> which is inserted through a corresponding hole (not shown) in the hitch receptacle <b>24</b>. The locking pin <b>40</b> is secured in place by a clip <b>42</b> for securing the horizontal portion <b>36</b> of the shank <b>22</b> within the hitch receptacle <b>24</b>. The shank <b>22</b> also includes a vertical portion <b>44</b> which is provided with a plurality of transversely extending holes <b>46</b> spaced along the vertical extent of the vertical portion <b>44</b> and spaced a predetermined distance from one another.

The head <b>26</b> includes a pair of spaced shank flanges <b>50</b> which are spaced apart approximately a distance equal to or greater than a width of the vertical portion <b>44</b> of shank <b>22</b>. The shank flanges <b>50</b> are each provided with a lower mounting hole <b>52</b> and an arcuate shaped upper mounting slot <b>54</b>. The lower mounting holes <b>54</b> are adapted to receive a first fastener such as a threaded bolt <b>56</b> which is inserted through the lower mounting holes <b>52</b> and a selected one of the holes <b>46</b> provided in the vertical portion <b>44</b> of shank <b>22</b>. A nut <b>58</b> is engaged with the bolt <b>56</b> to secure the bolt in place. Appropriate washers/lock washers are utilized on the fastener <b>56</b>.

A plurality of adjustment teeth <b>60</b> are disposed adjacent to the upper elongated slots <b>54</b> on an outboard surface of the shank flanges <b>50</b>. A pair of toothed casters <b>62</b> are provided with appropriately spaced teeth <b>64</b> (best shown in FIG. 7) which are designed for cooperative engagement with the plurality of adjustment teeth <b>60</b> on head <b>26</b>. The toothed casters <b>62</b> each include a mounting hole <b>66</b> disposed offset laterally from a center portion of the tooth caster <b>62</b>, as best illustrated in FIG. 8. A second fastener such as threaded bolt <b>68</b> is provided for passing through the mounting hole <b>66</b> provided in each of the toothed casters <b>62</b> and through the arcuate slot <b>54</b> provided in the shank flanges <b>50</b> of head <b>26</b>. The threaded fastener <b>68</b> also passes through one of the corresponding mounting holes <b>46</b> provided in the vertical portion <b>44</b> of shank <b>22</b>.

The angular position of the head <b>26</b> is adjustable relative to shank <b>22</b> by engaging the caster teeth <b>64</b> selectively with the plurality of adjustment teeth <b>60</b> on the head <b>26</b>. According to a preferred embodiment, the head <b>26</b> includes four (4) adjustment teeth <b>60</b> on each side and the toothed casters <b>62</b> each include three (3) caster teeth <b>64</b>. Thus, the toothed casters <b>62</b> can engage the adjustment teeth <b>60</b> in five different positions and can also be rotated 180 degrees to obtain five additional positions for a total of ten discrete angular orientations of the head achieved with relatively large teeth. A nut <b>70</b> is then secured to the bolt <b>68</b> to secure the toothed casters in engagement with the adjustment teeth <b>60</b> of the head <b>26</b>. Again, appropriate washers/lock washers can be utilized with the bolt <b>68</b>.

The head <b>26</b> also includes a rear upper flange portion <b>72</b> and a rear lower flange portion <b>74</b>. The rear lower flange portion <b>74</b> includes two ear sections <b>74</b>A, <b>74</b>B. The left and right ear sections <b>74</b>A, <b>74</b>B of the rear lower flange portion <b>74</b> each include a spring bar mounting hole <b>76</b> extending therethrough. The rear upper flange portion <b>72</b> of the head <b>26</b> includes left and right ear sections <b>72</b>A, <b>72</b>B which each include a mounting hole <b>78</b> extending therethrough above the mounting holes <b>76</b> of the rear lower flange portion <b>74</b>. In addition, a lower surface of the rear upper flange portion <b>72</b> is provided with a pair of receptor grooves <b>80</b> best shown in FIG. 6 which each communicate with the mounting holes <b>78</b> provided in the left and right ear sections <b>72</b>A, <b>72</b>B of the rear upper flange portion <b>72</b>.

The head <b>26</b>, according to the principles of the present invention, is capable of receiving either trunnion bars <b>84</b> which are comprised of square or rectangular shaped spring bars <b>30</b> which are inserted into trunnion receivers <b>86</b> as shown in FIG. 3, or receiving round spring bars <b>88</b> as best shown in FIG. <b>4</b>. The trunnion receivers <b>86</b> of the trunnion bars <b>84</b> are provided with a lower cylindrical journal portion <b>90</b> which is inserted into the mounting holes <b>76</b> provided in the rear lower flange portion <b>74</b> of the head <b>26</b>. The trunnion receivers <b>86</b> are provided with an upper cylindrical journal portion <b>92</b> which are inserted through the recessed groove portions <b>80</b> provided on the lower surface of the rear upper flange portion <b>72</b> of the head <b>26</b>. The square spring bars <b>30</b> are inserted into the trunnion receivers <b>86</b> and secured in place by a bolt which extends through mounting holes <b>94</b> provided in the trunnion receivers <b>86</b> and through a corresponding mounting hole <b>96</b> provided at the end of the spring bar <b>30</b>.

According to an alternative embodiment utilizing round spring bars <b>88</b>, as shown in FIG. 4, the round spring bars <b>88</b> are provided with upwardly extending end portions <b>100</b> and rearwardly extending elongated portions <b>102</b>. The upwardly extending portions <b>100</b> are inserted upwardly through the mounting holes <b>76</b> provided in the rear lower flange portion <b>74</b> and through the mounting holes <b>78</b> provided in the rear upper flange portion <b>72</b>. The upper ends of the vertical extending portions <b>100</b> of the round spring bars <b>88</b> are provided with receiving grooves <b>104</b> which are engaged by locking tabs <b>106</b> (best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) which extend radially inwardly from the mounting holes <b>78</b> as is generally known in the art.

A rearward end of the trunnion bars <b>84</b> and round spring bars <b>88</b>, include chain mounting holes <b>108</b> which are provided for receiving opposite legs <b>108</b> of a U-bolt <b>110</b> therethrough. The U-bolt <b>110</b> is secured in place by nuts <b>112</b> threadedly engaging the ends of the U-bolt <b>110</b>. The chains <b>32</b> are connected at one end portion to the U-bolts <b>110</b>. The chains <b>32</b> are connected at a second end portion to the snap-up brackets <b>34</b> as is known in the art.

During assembly, the shank <b>22</b> is inserted into the hitch receiver <b>24</b> and the pin <b>40</b> and clip <b>42</b> are installed. The hitch ball <b>28</b> is mounted in the ball mounting hole <b>29</b> of the head <b>26</b>. The bolt holes <b>52</b> on the head <b>26</b> are then aligned to the nearest holes <b>46</b> on the shank <b>22</b> that corresponds to a ball height approximately two inches higher than the trailer coupler height, which is the height of the trailer coupler when provided in a horizontal position. The head is assembled to the shank by inserting the bolts <b>56</b> and <b>68</b> as described above, keeping the head at an angle of 90 degrees initially. The trailer coupler is then lowered onto the hitch ball, and the latch on the trailer coupler is then closed. The bottom journal <b>90</b> of the trunnion bar receiver <b>86</b> is inserted in the lower socket or mounting hole <b>76</b> of the head <b>26</b>. The spring bar <b>30</b> is then tilted and then twisted so that the top journal portion <b>92</b> of the trunnion bar receiver <b>86</b> is inserted through the receptor grooves <b>80</b> into the top sockets on the underside of the upper flange portion <b>72</b> of the head <b>26</b>.

The snap-up brackets <b>34</b> are positioned on the trailer A-frame of the tongue, and the chains <b>32</b> are held vertical while the snap-up brackets <b>34</b> are centered with the vertical chain. The snap-up brackets <b>34</b> are then secured in place by the fasteners <b>114</b>. The trailer jack is then adjusted so that the trailer is level. The spring bar chains are then pulled straight up, and the link that is two links down from the link which is closest to the snap-up bracket will be used for the initial hook up. The trailer jack is then raised to remove all weight from the tow vehicle to raise the bumper of the tow vehicle approximately one inch. This will reduce the spring bar tension and make the chain connection safer and easier. The upper end of the chosen chain link is then attached to the snap-up bracket hook <b>115</b> while allowing the remaining chain to fall on the outside of the bracket. The handle <b>116</b> is then used to raise the snap-up bracket <b>34</b>.

To adjust the angle of tilt on the head <b>26</b>, the trailer is uncoupled and the top nut <b>70</b> on the upper bolt <b>68</b> is loosened so the toothed spacers <b>62</b> are free to move. The toothed spacers <b>62</b> can be slid laterally to engage adjacent teeth, or can be rotated 180 degrees in order to adjust the tilt angle of the head relative to the shank <b>22</b>, as discussed above.

With the design of the present invention, the head <b>26</b> is provided with a unique angular adjustment feature which utilizes a small number of adjustment teeth on the head and toothed casters <b>64</b>, but provides for ten different angular positions while utilizing a wide toothed configuration which gives greater strength and assurance of proper seating. In addition, the head <b>26</b> is capable of being utilized with both trunnion bars and round spring bars.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.